Applicator including means for sealing a dauber to a container



Jan. 17, 1967 G. SCHWARTZMAN APPLICATOR INCLUDING MEANS FOR SEALING A DAUBER TO A CONTAINER Filed Oct. 20, 1964 //V VE N 70R. a/z 552/ sawmzzz/ww y Kiw 4 ya Q1,

inn W24 United States Patent 3,298,055 APPLICATOR INCLUDING MEANS FOR SEALING A DAUBER TO A CONTAINER Gilbert Schwartzman, 20 Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 Filed Oct. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 405,190 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-566) This invention relates to'an applicator for use in applying shoe polish, cosmetics or medications andmore particularly to a swaged assembly of a dauberand container.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of means for facilitating the application of shoe polish or the like. i r

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of novel dauber having valve means which is automatically actuated and adapted to control the flow of shoe polish from a dauber for obtaining an even flow of shoe polish onto a shoe, the dauber being swaged to a container in a fluid tight manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide for better control of fluid flow of material being applied into cracks, crevices, as Well as sizeable areas, providing for a leakproof and spillproof package for the material to be applied, While also saving on material costs.

It is highly desirable that packages for shoe polish,

various medications, and cosmetics be spillproof and leakproof because of the permanent stains that can result if the material in the packages is released due to accident or inadvertence. Accordingly, it is an additional object of this invention to provide a spillproof, substantially shatterproof, leakproof applicator, which can be easily assembled and filled.

Modern packaging techniques and styles attempt to render packages more compact, streamlined and eyeappealing. Further, in modern packaging there is an ever-increasing use of various synthetic plastics such as polyethylene and polyurethane for the production of substantially unbreakable containers. I

Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide an applicator constructed mainly of synthetic plastic having a dauber with a spring operated valve memher for permitting fluid flow to the dauber in a controlled manner and which applicator conveniently permits the filling of the applicator by means of a needle insertable through the cover and past the valve member, yet which applicator is leakproof and modern in style.

Still other objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an applicator which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to fill with fluid of various viscosities in an effective manner so that the dauber is especially adapted for use in applying shoe polish, medications, cosmetics, oils, polishes and the like, which applicator may be made in any convenient size as desired, and which applicator may be provided with a dauber head of a reduced size.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this applicator, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded vertical sectional view illustrating component elements of the applicator;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the applicator in an assembled state;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating the applicator with the valve assembly in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view of a modified form 3,298,055 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 of the applicator with the cap removed and with the valve assembly in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the applicator of FIGS. 1-3 illustrating the dauber in use for application of shoe polish or the like;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the applicator;

FIG. 7 is a sectional detail view showing the modified form of FIG. 4 during the manufacture thereof.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, particularly the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the applicator comprising the present invention. This applicator includes two main parts, a container 12 formed of a suitable plastic material such as polyethylene, polyurethane or the like, and a dauber assembly 14 adapted to be swaged to the container 12. The dauber assembly 14 includes a housing 15 with a projecting portion 17 having a fiange 16 provided with an arcuate upper groove 18 and an arcuate lower groove 19 therein.

The projecting portion 17 has integrally formed therewith a reduced neck portion 20 and a head 22 of even lesser cross sectional dimensions than the neck portion 20. An arcuate groove 24 is located at the juncture of the neck portion 20 and the head 22.

The head 22 has a circular recess 26 formed in the top surface thereof defining a flange 28 and a rib 30. The flange 28 is swaged as at 32 to hold a disc 34 in position.

The disc 34 is constructed of two layers, the upper layer 36 of which is formed of nylon knitted brushed fabric so a to achieve a felt-like applicator surface and appearance, while having the chemical inertness and strength of the nylon. Laminated and bonded to the nylon knitted brush fabric is the lower layer 38 of coarse polyurethane foam.

The housing 15 has a tapered bore 40 extending therethrough. The bore 40 has its widest diameter at the bottom of the projecting portion 17 and tapers at a slight angle inwardly and upwardly. At the neck portion 20 the bore tapers at a much sharper angle to form conical interior wall portions 42. The inner walls 44 of the head defining the bore 40 are very restricted in size and of a much reduced cross sectional dimension.

A valve assembly 46 is disposed in the bore 40. Cooperating with the arcuate tapered walls 44-, which serves as a valve seat, is the conical surface 48 of a valve head 50 having a cylindrical portion 52 terminating in a hemispherical surface 54. The valve assembly 46 includes a spring 56 formed in tapered helical coils, the portion of smaller diameter being secured or integrally formed at 58 with valve head 50. The lower end 60 of the spring 56 is in the form of a ring and is held in place in the housing 15 by the swaged end 62 of the housing 15. The swaged end 62 thus retains the valve assembly 46 within the housing 15 with the spring 56 in a continuously stressed condition under compression so that the valve head 50 is continuously urged into contact with walls 42 and through and outwardly of bore 40 for the purpose of closing the bore 40 and preventing fluid flow from the container 12 onto the cover 36.

Depending mainly upon the small size and surface area of the hemispherical surface 54 the dauber may be used to apply fluid into small spaces. It has been found that for application of shoe polish, a hemispherical shape is preferred because otherwise hard to reach places can be easily given an adequate coating of shoe polish.

The container 12 is provided with an upper portion 66 of reduced wall thickness. The juncture of the upper portion 66 of the container 12 is defined by a triangular groove 68 forming a knife edged circular lip 70. A

gasket 72 formed of rubber or rubber like plastic material is disposed in a circular groove 74 adjacent the flange 16 and the upper portion 66 of the container 12 is swaged so as to fit in groove 13 to secure the container 12 to the dauber assembly 14 to form the unitary applicator. The knife edge of the lip 70 is engaged with and presses into central portions of the gasket 72 to provide for fluid tightness of an unusually high order.

In order to fill the applicator, a needle on the order of a hyperdermic needle is inserted through the cover 36 and the valve head 50 is depressed allowing the container to be filled.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 is similar to that of FIGS. 13 with the exception that instead of swaging the dauber assembly 14 to the container, a metal gasket ring 80 is employed, and electrical heat inductionmagnetic coils 82 are disposed about the container 12 for heat sealing the container 12 to the dauber assembly 14.

The container 12 may be of any convenient size and shape. A cap 86 is provided and may be of a snap-fit type arranged with tongue 88 to snap over the cover and into groove 24. A detent 90 may be provided to facilitate removal of the cap 86. p

In use, with the cap 86 removed depression of the cover 36 will depress the valve head 50 allowing fluid to pass onto the cover 36. The restrictive size of the cover 29, valve head 50 and semi-cylindrical surface 54 of the valve head produces good fluid flow control and facilitates application of fluid even to surfaces having cracks and crevices therein in a smooth and even coating.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is approprate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. An applicator comprising a dauber assembly having a housing, said housing provided with a tapered bore therethrough forming a valve seat, a valve member movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said bore, a container, said dauber assembly having an annular groove therein, said dauber assembly having a projecting portion extending into said container, said container including a lip and an upper portion of reduced thickness, a gasket disposed in said annular groove, said upper portion being secured to said housing with said lips engaging said gasket.

2. An applicator comprising a dauber assembly having a housing, a resilient cover secured to said housing, said housing having a tapered bore therethrough forming a valve seat, a spring pressed valve member movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said bore to said cover, a container, said dauber assembly having an annular groove therein, said dauber assembly having a projecting portion extending into said container, said container including a lip and an upper portion of reduced thickness, a metallic gasket disposed in said groove, said upper portion being bonded to said housing with said lip engaging said gasket.

3. An applicator comprising a dauber assembly having a housing, provided with a tapered bore therethrough forming a valve seat, a valve member movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said bore, said dauber assembly having an upper annular groove therein and a lower annular groove therein, a con tainer, said dauber assembly having a projecting portion extending into said container, said container including a lip provided with a knife edge, said lip having an upper portion of reduced thickness, a gasket disposed in said lower groove, said upper portion being swaged into said upper groove with said knife edge pressing into said gasket.

4. An applicator comprising a dauber assembly having a housing, said housing having a tapered bore therethrough forming a valve seat, a valve member movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said bore, said dauber assembly having an upper annular groove therein and a lower annular groove therein, said dauber assembly having a projecting portion extending into said container, said container including a lip with a knife edge and an upper portion of reduced thickness, a gasket disposed in said lower groove, said upper portion being swaged into said upper groove with said knife edge engaging said gasket.

5. An applicator comprising a dauber assembly having a housing, a cover secured to said housing, said housing having a tapered bore therethrough forming a valve seat, a valve member movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said bore, said valve member including spring means engaging said housing and a valve head, said spring means urging said valve head toward said cover and against said valve seat, said cover being deformable so that said valve head may be depressed away from said valve seat against the force exerted by said spring means, a container, said dauber assembly having an upper annular groove therein and a lower annular groove therein, said dauber assembly having a projecting portion extending into said container, said container including a lip and an upper portion of reduced thickness, a gasket disposed in said lower groove, said upper portion being swaged into said upper groove with said lip engaging said gasket.

6. An applicator comprising a dauber assembly having a housing, a cover secured to said housing, said housing having a tapered bore therethrough forming a valve seat, a valve member. movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid flow through said bore, said valve member including spring means engaging said housing and a valve head, said spring means urging said valve head toward said cover and against said valve seat, said cover being deformable so that said valve head may be depressed away from said valve seat against the-force exerted by said spring means, a container, said dauber assembly having an upper annular groove therein and a lower annular groove therein, said dauber assembly having a projecting portion extending into said container, said container including a lip with a knife edge, said lip having an upper portion of reduced thickness, a gasket disposed in said lower groove, said upper portion being swaged into said upper groove with said knife edge pressing into said gasket.

7. An applicator according to claim 6 wherein said cover is of a two-ply laminated material including an upper layer of nylon knitted brushed fabric and a lower layer of coarse polyurethane foam bonded to said upper layer.

No references cited.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

S. E. BECK, Assistant Examiner, 

1. AN APPLICATOR COMPRISING A DAUBER ASSEMBLY HAVING A HOUSING, SAID HOUSING PROVIDED WITH A TAPERED BORE THERETHROUGH FORMING A VALVE SEAT, A VALVE MEMBER MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID VALVE SEAT TO CONTROL FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID BORE, A CONTAINER, SAID DAUBER ASSEMBLY HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE THEREIN, SAID DAUBER ASSEMBLY HAVING A PROJECTING PORTION EXTENDING INTO SAID CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING A LIP AND AN UPPER PORTION OF REDUCED THICKNESS, A GASKET DISPOSED IN SAID ANNULAR GROOVE, SAID UPPER PORTION BEING SECURED TO SAID HOUSING WITH SAID LIPS ENGAGING SAID GASKET. 